Illusion apparatus.



I 5113; 8637470. 1 PATENTBD we. 13,1 9

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ILLUSION APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 9. 190?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

,Nm 863.470; Q PATENTED-AUG, 1a, 1907. .1221). mama; W

- 'ILLUSION APPARATUS.-

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9 1907 "Ev mxxpfnwmgs "UNITED STATES FRANK D. 'lHOillriS, Ol" NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUSIOH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 9, 19(17- Serial'lio. 367,195.

'To rzll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D; THoMAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county :hifNeW York and State of New York, have invented I 'certain'new and useful Improvements in Illusion Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description otthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in tlinrt to which it ap- \,pertains to make and use the seine.

This invention relates to illusion apparatus for stages and the like, and has 'for an object to provide means combining a moving scene with movin g'figures inde- .pendcnt of but forming )art of the scene.

further object of ivention is to provide in an ion apparatus rncansflor throwing a moving picture.

. .npona screen, which said moving pictureforms a "scenery, and moving obj-cots projected through thescreen and moving in unison with and-forming a part of the scene represented by the moving picture.

A further objectoi the invention is to provide in an illusion apparatus a moving picture preferably of a water scene showing waves, breakers and the like, and

with objects, preferably human beings, with their bodies projected partly through the screen,- upon which the moving picture is projected and moving to represent bathcrs in the water represented by the moving picture A further objectof the invention is to provide means for carrying out the illusion of bathers among the waves and breakers. v

' 7 With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. '7 V Inthe drawings:Figure l is a view in front elevation of a proscenium arch and curtain therefor with a conventional representation of a bathing scene thrown thereupon, it being understood that the scene representing the water is produced by a moving picture niachine and the bathers being human beings, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a curtain adapted to permit a part of the human body to be inserted therethrough, andto receive the projections from a moving picture machine thereupon. Fig. 3 is a conventional View showinga screen in'scction and with the persons forming a part of the bathing scene seen partly through the screen.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out the illusion which forms the subjectmatter of this application a screen, as 10, is provided suspended in any approved manner, preferably back of the proscenium arch ll, and with the foot lights 12 of the usual andordinary stage. s The-screen is provided with any approved number of openings 13 formed therein within which is secured an elastic material, as 14', preferably of white sheet rubber, and with an opening 15 concentric with the opening 13. By the employment of the elasticmaterial 14 within the opening 13 the upper or any part of a human body may'be easily and conveniently inserted through the opening lit/and the elastic material will close tightly abdut the form at any desired point so that the persons 16 seated or standing upon any approved form'of support or trestle, as 17, show only so much of their body as is inserted in front of the screen 10.

door is is provided of a material corresponding in color may dive in representation of diving into the water.

Behind th'e'screen 10 adjacent the vampire door 18 is disposed a mattress or other means 19 upon which a person diving through the-vampire door 18 may land without injury and another or other vampire door or doors, here shown as 20, is provided through which the person divi g through ,the vampire door 18 may inserta' part of his body to represent diving under the water in one place and coming up in another place. To produce the Water scene a moving picture machine shown conventionally at 21 is mounted at any convenient place upon the usual and ordinary balcony or gallery 22, and so focused and manipulated as to throw a scene representing waves or breakers to fill the entire screen,. which, in turn, fills the intervals of the proscenium arch.

While, as above described, the preferred scene cast upon the screen is a water scene representing waves and breakers as the most readily adaptable for use in connection. with the human figures employed, it is to be understood that thoinvcntion is not limited to the employment of a watorsccne, but any other scene may be cmployed'in which iuoving physical figures may be adapted to form apart.

While, as ubove'describcd, human figures have been employed in representation with the moving picture scene, it is to be understood that any moving object,- either animate or inanimate, may be similarly employed without departing from the spirit'of the invention. I The vampire door referred scription may be constructed in any of several well known forms and is a well known adjunct and appliance to stage scenery. It-is constructed by producing an opening of any desired shape through the scenery and mounting therein a plur'alityof doors whose conibincd area corresponds exactly with the opening and pears .upon the surrounding surface. The doors are hinged in such manner that they open fromthe middle outwardly and are closed by quick'acting springs so that when a person passes through the doors the doors 'closo At any convenient point in the screen a vampire to the color of the screen and through which a person to in the foregoing ode which doors are provided with the samcscenery as ap- '20 may differ in form, as his head and shoulders through such openings it will spending in color to thestreen almost instantaneously to return to position the scenery. Ihe vampire door 18 would preferably be formed with a circular opening with the door formed in four segments asshown particularly in Figs. 1 and .2 wi tlrhingos upon each section so that the doors will open upon the circumferential line and with hinges applied thereto so that the door will (:losr ilmost instantly upon a person jumping or divingthrough such opening. The door after the operator has inserted meansto permit the entrance of ultimate hodies through the screen to form a part of the scene in association with the moving picture;

2. in an illusion apparatus. screen, means to east upon the screen a moving.- pit-lure representing waves. and means elastic material eorreto front and means adapted to throw adapted to permit the entrance of human bodies through the screen in position to produce the etteet of being nniong; the. waves.

ii, in an illusion apparatus, a screen, means to throw it moving picture upon. the screen, ineans adapted to permit. the entrance tr animate bodies through the screen. and means to permit a body to pass through the screen from the front in one direction and to appear another direction.

4. in an illusion.apparatus, a screen provided with a plurality of openings embodying an elastic diaphragm, means to position human bodies adjacent to the openings and means adapted to throw a scene upon'the sereenl 5. in an illusion apparatus, a screen provided with an opening: and with'an elastic fabric secured within the opening and provided with an opening, means to position a hotly adjacent to the opening and means adapted to throw a scene upon the screen G. in an illusion apparatusn screen provided'with an opening emhodying'an e1: tie diaphragm. means to posilion :1 body adjacent to the opening. a vampire door open in; from front to rear. a vampire door-opening from-rear a scene upon the screen.

in testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK D. THOMAS.

Witnesses: I i

' 1!. L; Ro'rn.

from the hack in I 

